Gastro keeps ward in lockdown

WARD 6D at the Launceston General Hospital will stay in quarantine for at least another 48 hours, after new cases of gastroenteritis were confirmed among patients and staff yesterday.

The 32-bed ward has been closed to new admissions and restricted to visitors and non-essential staff since Friday, when the bug was first detected.

Initially up to nine patients and six staff were affected, but a review yesterday confirmed more people had succumbed to the contagious virus.

Tasmanian Health Organisation North chief executive John Kirwan said while precautions remained in place at the hospital to contain the transmission of the illness, there was evidence of its spread in the wider community.

Scottsdale is one of the main towns where the bug is having a widespread effect.

Mr Kirwan urged the public to only visit patients in the hospital if it was essential.

He warned the virus had the potential to impact on wider hospital services with a number of staff now affected.

Anyone who has been in contact with the virus should not visit the hospital, or attend work or school until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.